“Here I developed and spent the most beautiful moments of my life…”
Fausto Rodríguez tells of his experience of more than three decades living in the Jackson Heights neighborhood and touring the Corona area. For Rodríguez, in the last 20 years both communities have been transformed.
“The most radical change has been the beautification of Northern Boulevard,” Fausto said.
A street that today has dozens of businesses, mostly Latin food. Only two old ones remain: a supermarket and a bakery of more than 30 years that previously belonged to Italians and today their owners are Peruvians.
“Here I came with my dad,” Fausto recalled.
Fausto Rodriguez.
Rodríguez is one of the thousands of Latinos who grew up in Queens, the most diverse county in the world and the most affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. In these times he says that many have had to move.
“It’s the rent. It’s almost impossible to live here in Jackson Heights.”
According to data from the Furman Center, private home rentals in Jackson Heights have increased by more than 15 percent over the past two decades. It went from $1,540 in 2006 to $1,780 in 2021.
At Coatzingo Taqueria, serving the Jackson Heights community for 23 years, Beatris Zapata runs her parents’ business.
“Twenty years ago we were very few and now there are quite a few, there are already several businesses in this area that have found success and the owners are Hispanic,” said Zapata.
Zapata.
Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz grew up in Jackson Heights and says she is proud to see the Latino community succeed. She called for a Latino presence during the elections.
“We ask the community to register, to go out and vote, to participate, to become civically involved in what is happening in the community. Because this is how we are going to achieve that one day we have a mayor or even a Latino president,” Cruz said.
While in the neighborhood of Corona, where twenty years ago Latinos came from the Caribbean and Mexico, today it is the home of immigrants from all over Latin America.
According to data from the city’s Planning department, between 2000 and 2020 the Hispanic population in Corona grew from 47,156 to 51,500.
Some businessmen say that although local politicians have worked, the changes have not been good.
Creole corner.
“Cleanliness has to change number one, crime too. I want to leave here at ten o’clock as quickly as possible so that everyone is well,” said Esther Acosta, from Rincón Criollo.
According to data from the Police Department of the 110th precinct in Corona, in the last 20 years there has been a 90 percent increase in theft crimes of more than a thousand dollars. While criminal assaults have increased by 63 percent. However murders and rapes have decreased by 11 percent.
Councilman Francisco Moya grew up in this community and says his experience helped him understand everyone’s needs.
Moya. Councilor.
According to Moya, one of the greatest achievements has been the expansion of the 7 train line that now reaches Hudson Yards. Also, what’s next for both the Jackson Heights and Corona communities with the construction of a neighborhood in Willets Point.
“To be able to bring a soccer stadium here to this neighborhood with over 2,500 affordable homes, to build a new neighborhood on a site that was abandoned for many years.”
2023-06-29 16:26:00
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